Dubai’s best places for bar sports

1. Air Hockey at Axe House

Nothing screams “I’m definitely not about to have a migraine” more than the rattling of an air hockey puck. At Axe House in JLT, you can let loose on your opponent in the dedicated games room out the back (so the noise is well contained). There’s also a pay-by-the-hour pool table and a massive TV to show the game. It’s top fun, gets super busy and always has some great tunes on.

Open Sun-Fri noon-2am; Sat 10am-2am. Armada BlueBay Hotel, Cluster P, JLT (04 399 9577).

2. Arcade Games at Stereo Arcade

Okay, while this pastime mightn’t technically qualify as a bar sport, it’s certainly a game in a bar, and that sort of counts, right? Head down to retro ’80s bar Stereo Arcade (the clue is in the name really, isn’t it?), and make your way to one of the many, many free-to-play arcade games stocked with hundreds, if not thousands, of old-school gaming titles that will take you on a little trip down Nostalgia Avenue for the night. One of our favourite pastimes is setting the high score then trying to find the most hilarious three-letter name you can – it is big, and it is clever.

Open daily 6pm-3am. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dubai – Jumeirah Beach, JBR (052 618 2424).

3. Bowling at The 44

It’s the world’s highest bowling alley – and with two lanes available at this 44th floor sports bar in Al Habtoor City you’ll hear the rattling of pins, the chuntering of rubbish bowlers, the less-than-magnanimous yelps from the victors, as well as cool music. There are pool tables and dartboards too for real pub sport aficionados, a well-sized terrace bar area and loads of screens showing the latest kick-off. This place is somewhere between a sports bar and a gentlemen’s club, and we like it.

Open daily noon-2am. Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 437 3333).

4. Bucking bronco at Rodeo Drive

This American bar is what we’d imagine a movie-style frat party to be like. Table football, leather bar stools, lots of wooden décor, a hops pong table and a massive bucking bronco. Stick on a pair of denims, slap on your boots and spurs and head on down to this no-nonsense bar. Just sign a waiver, on you hop and get involved. You’ll be whooping and cheering like an American frat boy so much you’ll practically be putting the”‘bro” in “bronco”.

Open daily 6pm-3am. Near Crowne Plaza Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 386 9617).

5. Darts at Crown & Lion

Ahh, darts. The most humble, salt-of-the-earth bar sport around. Many may not consider surly blokes lobbing around micro arrows of metal with, literally, pin-point precision while chugging pints to be a sport, but darts is an age-old tradition loved by millions. For a proper manly bar sports experience head to proper manly pub Crown & Lion in Barsha Heights. “180!” and all that. Don’t forget the garish shirt and rotund physique to complete your experience. It also does a mean roast.

Open daily 11am-3am. Byblos Hotel, Barsha Heights (04 448 8000).

6. Hops pong at Cobra Kai

This quirky, fun and lively Asian-themed bar (which sits, all Karate Kid-themed alongside fun Asian restaurant Mr. Miyagi’s) is usually found absolutely heaving with partygoers. If you can navigate the crowd, head to the UV-soaked hops pong room, where there are several tables lined up for a cracking bit of fun.

Open Wed-Mon noon-3am, Tue noon-2am. Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City (04 427 1000).

7. Pool at The Underground

There are some excellent places to play pool around Dubai – including dedicated pool halls dotted across the city, and some top sports bars – but if you’re looking for a top spot to catch a match and smash a few frames of pool, look no further than our Best Sports Bar. An award winner at the Time Out Dubai Music & Nightlife Awards in 2018, The Underground has more than 20 screens around its British-themed interiors (plus a projector and some massive tellies), you’ll also find a couple of pool tables with an ideally-positioned TV nearby, so you’ll never miss a kick, nor will you miss that easy 8-ball to finish off (no promises).

Open daily noon-3am. Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection, JBR (04 408 4257).

8. Shuffleboard at Qube Sports Bar

Qube at The Meydan Hotel is quite possibly the only place in Dubai where you’ll find a free-to-play shuffleboard… board. The sports bar offers up a bunch of free games you can play with your pint and the latest kick-off, such as the aforementioned shuffleboard, plus pool, table football and darts. If you’ve not come across it before, shuffleboard is sort of like curling, only way smaller and not played on ice. Shove, or “shuffle” your puck as close to the opposing edge of the table, without it falling off, while facing off against your competitive arch enemy who’s trying to smack your little pucks off the edge. Try not to get too over-competitive about it, it’s meant to be a pretty low-octane lounge game, after all.

Open Sun-Wed noon-2am, Thu-Sat noon-3am. The Meydan Hotel, Nad Al Sheba (04 381 3780).

9. Sumo wrestling at Lock, Stock & Barrel

This is a new bar sport on the Dubai scene, and it’s one that we whole-heartedly, absolutely, unequivocally endorse. Head along to our Bar of the Year, Lock Stock & Barrel JBR – The Walk, for the Big Fat Brunch on a Friday, and you’ll be treated to a whole bunch of brunch fun. Not least, you’ll find the most outrageous fun comes from the sumo wrestling suits awaiting you and your mates. Pop them on, smash into each other as hard as you possibly can. Alongside some top live tunes from resident band Gorgeous George, who rock out every weekend, you’re guaranteed a belting afternoon.

Dhs269 (soft drinks), Dhs369 (house beverages). Fri, 1pm-4pm. Ongoing. Open Mon-Fri 4pm-3am; Sat-Sun 2pm-3am. Rixos Premium Dubai, JBR (04 520 0049).

10. Table Football at Kickers

This spot, which made its way onto the Best Sports Bar shortlist at the Time Out Dubai Music & Nightlife Awards 2018, is a great place to catch the big kick-off, but there’s also a lot more going on. As well as the pool tables, TV screens and more, you can also find 22 little wooden men impaled on huge metal sticks and forced to spend eternity spinning endlessly and kicking a tiny ball from one end of a table to another – otherwise known as table football, otherwise known as foosball, depending on where you’re from. Come have a spinningly good time while watching the latest match. Particularly good for venting your frustration as your team gives away a last-minute equaliser or goes out of the cup on penalties... again.

Open Sun-Wed 1pm-2am; Thu-Sat noon-2am. Football Zone, Sports Village, Dubai Sports City (04 448 1001).

11. Table tennis at the House Party Bar

A brand-new arrival on the Dubai nightlife scene, this retro ’90s-themed hangout has loads of games, including giant Connect Four and, as the title suggests, table tennis. It also doubles up for hops pong, too, if you’re that way inclined. Head for the table tennis, stay for the Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys tunes, old-school arcade machines, American snacks and more. It’s a thoroughly fun, and original, night out.

Open Mon, Thu-Fri 6pm-3am, Sun, Tue-Wed, Sat 6pm-2am. Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road (050 995 5400).

Source: timeoutdubai